who
could not bear even to look at you in your former shape, now gazes at
you with delight, and wants you to perch upon her hairpin, and holds
out her dainty fan in the hope that you will light upon it. But this
reminds me that there is an ancient Chinese story about you, which is
not pretty.

"In the time of the Emperor Genso, the Imperial Palace contained
hundreds and thousands of beautiful ladies,--so many, indeed, that it
would have been difficult for any man to decide which among them was
the loveliest. So all of those beautiful persons were assembled
together in one place; and you were set free to fly among them; and it
was decreed that the damsel upon whose hairpin you perched should be
augustly summoned to the Imperial Chamber. In that time there could not
be more than one Empress--which was a good law; but, because of you,
the Emperor Genso did great mischief in the land. For your mind is
light and frivolous; and although among so many beautiful women there
must have been some persons of pure heart, you would look for nothing
but beauty, and so betook yourself to the person most beautiful in
outward appearance. Therefore many of the female attendants ceased
altogether to think about the right way of women, and began to study
how to make themselves appear splendid in the eyes of men. And the end
of it was that the Emperor Genso died a pitiful and painful death--all
because of your light and trifling mind. Indeed, your real character
can easily be seen from your conduct in other matters. There are trees,
for example,--such as the evergreen-oak and the pine,--whose leaves do
not fade and fall, but remain always green;--these are trees of firm
heart, trees of solid character. But you say that they are stiff and
formal; and you hate the sight of them, and never pay them a visit.
Only to the cherry-tree, and the kaido [15], and the peony, and the
yellow rose you go: those you like because they have showy flowers, and
you try only to please them. Such conduct, let me assure you, is very
unbecoming. Those trees certainly have handsome flowers; but
hunger-satisfying fruits they have not; and they are grateful to those
only who are fond of luxury and show. And that is just the reason why
they are pleased by your fluttering wings and delicate shape;--that is
why they are kind to you.

"Now, in this spring season, while you sportively dance through the
gardens of the wealthy, or hover among the beautiful alleys of
cher